Australia — Events
Good Food and Wine Show
July 15, 2011 - May 17, 2011
Foodies delight. Here you’ll see the best of Perth and Western Australian produce. Taste chocolate, cheese and wine, see celebrity chefs in action or take a cooking master class. Hundreds of food and wine exhibitors participate in this weekend-long culinary feast.
Melbourne Cup Carnival
October 29, 2011 - November 5, 2011
Held in late October and early November each year, the Melbourne Cup Carnival is unmistakeably the pinnacle in Melbourne’s horseracing calendar. Over four days, Melbournians don their finery – dapper suits, stylish frocks, fascinators and hats – and head to Flemington Racecourse for Australia’s finest horseracing meet. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a range of other race meetings on offer throughout the rest of the year – check out Melbourne’s Autumn Carnival (www.horseracinginfo.com.au), held annually in February and March, for all the fun and excitement of a day at the races.
Christmas Eve Carols By Candlelight
December 24, 2011 - February 10, 2012
Prepare for Christmas Day in a unique way by attending the Carols by Candlelight in the Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Christmas Eve. An Australian Christmas institution, the Carols by Candlelight have supported the important work of Vision Australia, an organization supporting people living with vision-impairment.
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
December 26, 2011 - December 29, 2011
The world-famous 2,000km (1,240-mile) yacht race departs Sydney Harbour on 26 December.
Cricket
December 26, 2011 - February 10, 2012
Boxing Day is the time to head to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG, affectionately known as “the ‘G”) for the annual Boxing Day Test. Over the summer a plethora of international and domestic games – Twenty20s, One-Dayers and Tests - are played at the ‘G. This is the Australian lifestyle at its best – outdoors, food, mates, drinks, sport.
New Year's Eve
December 31, 2011
The globally recognized extravagant and colorful fireworks display over Sydney Harbour attracts more than 1.5 million visitors each year. They are split into two show, the first at 2100 (Family Fireworks) and the second at midnight (the Midnight Fireworks). The fireworks show has become the most-watched New Years Eve fireworks display in the world. The best vantage points around the harbor are listed on the NSW government website.
Perth Cup
January 1, 2012
Bring in the New Year in style at Perth’s original New Year’s Day event. This 9-race program is the ultimate social event of the racing season. A range of ticket options are available from general admission to Marquee Style - for those who want to party in style – or the picnic@PerthCup or The Stalls for those of you traveling with larger groups of friends.
Music By The Sea
January 6, 2012 - January 8, 2012
It’s the 10th anniversary celebration of Music by the Sea, a premier Queensland music event not to be missed. Classical, folk, jazz and excellent world music are the hallmark of this unique three-day event.
Australian Open (tennis)
January 17, 2012 - January 30, 2012
The Australian Open attracts the world’s best tennis players to Australia’s sunny shores. From humble beginnings in 1969, when the prize money was a modest $5000, the Australian Open has grown to be one of the four grand slam events on the international tennis circuit. Played on hard court at the Rod Laver Arena (named after its first ever winner, Rod Laver), the tournament culminates with the men’s final, played on the last Sunday in January.
Darwin Festival
February 1, 2012 - February 28, 2012
Held over 18 days in the last two and half weeks of August, the Darwin Festival is a vibrant arts and cultural event with most acts held outdoors in the Botanical Gardens. One of the fastest growing major festivals in the Southern Hemisphere, it has a distinct multicultural flavor with indigenous and Asian events and entertainment. It presents a diverse and colorful program encompassing theater, music, dance, visual arts, comedy, film, workshops and free community events in a tropical, outdoor venue. Music is provided by various live bands performing on three stages.
